Good point! Nothing new here and it's about time we notice! Other than a handful of songs, I never cared for most of country music.
I noticed in Aldean's song he also raised up the pretend threat that "they" may round up your guns, including the shotgun granddaddy gave you. Did I understand those lyrics correctly?
I read that Aldean was born & raised in the CITY of Macon, GA and now lives in the CITY of Nashville. What does he even know about living in a small town anyway?
On a tangent from what you write here: Have you read Tressie McMillan Cottom on Black Country music and the genre as a whole? She's always brilliant, and this is no exception.
There’s lots of interesting stuff out there about the intersection and influence on one another between Appalachian music and the blues and its influence on country. These days all loosely falling under the “Americana” label. Folks like Rhiannon Giddens and Don Flemons currently among the more visible keepers of the flame. I like seeing the styles and influences of music as existing on an arc rather than in a bunch of camps. It helps with discovery.
Trying to describe country is like trying to describe jazz. It’s a bit of a trap. There’s the pop, cowboy hat wearing posers of the “gaming the rubes” category and then there’s the folks that write and/or perform their music from the heart and let it find it’s audience. There’s the dunderheads like Hank Williams Jr. (a beard with a name) and the open minded musicologists like Marty Stuart. I think back to the TV show Hee Haw. A lot of those folks would trot out their caricatures for the show and then go home to their lives of wealth and refinement. Minnie Pearl (Sarah Cannon), a product of a finishing school like education, famously so.
I think, in terms of appreciating and discovering music, you have to avoid being too dismissive. For every Aldean, Morgan Whalen, Williams Jr., there’s a Townes Van Zandt, Loretta Lynn, Guy Clark, Dolly, Willie, Johnny……..
With the latest controversy it bothers but doesn’t surprise me that there’s a market for the song. It also doesn’t surprise me at all that Aldean and his co-writers chose to exploit the sentiment.
This is an excellent point. And I wouldn't want to paint all country music as Aldean-esque. But I noticed in the '80s, when only Alabama seemed to be making it on not-country radio stations, the tone changed to something less country and more aggressive. Don't Take My Gun. Don't Take My Truck, And Keep Your Mitts Offa My Dog.
My 95yo mother who has lived in Dallas all her adult life and swears she does not watch Fox News, tells me that riding the bus -- which I did from the age of 12 to 17 -- will get white people murdered. It's *her* city, and that's how she sees it. Oh, and she refuses to vote, hasn't done so for decades. It's a mindset I can't understand, and I'm just glad I got out when I did.
The more older people (or any one, for that matter) stay in and watch television news, the more fearful they become. Why? Because local news covers the aberrations -- the murders, the carjackings -- and people begin to think that's what life Outside actually is. I saw this with my own mother-in-law, a Democrat involved in state politics for decades. Even she was susceptible to that kind of fearful nonsense.
The music of the 60's and especially the 70's is THE music. Back then musicians focused on melodies, lyrics and songs that had meaning that seems lost in these days of renegade country, and raging (c)rap. I think music can define generations and I am thankful my music lives on and meant so much to me and my peers.
For a while there, I reviewed country music occasionally for the Courant and I was continually surprised to see large crowds (and the random Confederate flag) at these events.
Not surprised seeing those flags. My friend is one who is fearful of all the crime in our cities. Has no problem with guns. Very conservative Catholic in that he supports turning back toward the Latin mass. Maybe also turning away from the progressive changes of Vatican II. Just saying just observing.
Apparently Aldean, who grew up, as Jac mention, in a city, not a small town, is unaware that his hometown of Macon has one of the highest crime rates in America. I guess people do try things in his "small" town.
I grew up on it and got tired of the formula that was popular then, which included a whole lotta divorce and deception. When it began morphing into existential chest-bumping, I bailed.
Excellent point. The controversy inspired me to watch the videos for both Aldean’s song and John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.” The images of violence and mayhem from “the city” in Aldean’s song prove your point, Susan. Then, compare it to Mellencamp’s video, which is filled with nothing but Norman Rockwellesque snapshots and home film clips. Still cliché, but Mellencamp’s song is a tribute rather than an angry screed.
You know I agree with you 99.9% of the time, Susan, but in the interest of journalistic integrity, I need to set the record straight. Earl was poisoned. Black eyed peas.
Besides that minor detail, you're on point, as usual.
Good point! Nothing new here and it's about time we notice! Other than a handful of songs, I never cared for most of country music.
I noticed in Aldean's song he also raised up the pretend threat that "they" may round up your guns, including the shotgun granddaddy gave you. Did I understand those lyrics correctly?
I read that Aldean was born & raised in the CITY of Macon, GA and now lives in the CITY of Nashville. What does he even know about living in a small town anyway?
Aldean did not write that song, which isn’t uncommon for today’s country stars. The whole “they” and guns runs deep.
On a tangent from what you write here: Have you read Tressie McMillan Cottom on Black Country music and the genre as a whole? She's always brilliant, and this is no exception.
I just read this, I’ll check out more of her stuff. Thanks.
https://tressie.substack.com/p/why-i-keep-returning-to-country-music
There’s lots of interesting stuff out there about the intersection and influence on one another between Appalachian music and the blues and its influence on country. These days all loosely falling under the “Americana” label. Folks like Rhiannon Giddens and Don Flemons currently among the more visible keepers of the flame. I like seeing the styles and influences of music as existing on an arc rather than in a bunch of camps. It helps with discovery.
Rhiannon Giddens is one of my favorite. Call it roots/Americana/whatever. I love this music.
I have not, but I'll go in search of.
Trying to describe country is like trying to describe jazz. It’s a bit of a trap. There’s the pop, cowboy hat wearing posers of the “gaming the rubes” category and then there’s the folks that write and/or perform their music from the heart and let it find it’s audience. There’s the dunderheads like Hank Williams Jr. (a beard with a name) and the open minded musicologists like Marty Stuart. I think back to the TV show Hee Haw. A lot of those folks would trot out their caricatures for the show and then go home to their lives of wealth and refinement. Minnie Pearl (Sarah Cannon), a product of a finishing school like education, famously so.
I think, in terms of appreciating and discovering music, you have to avoid being too dismissive. For every Aldean, Morgan Whalen, Williams Jr., there’s a Townes Van Zandt, Loretta Lynn, Guy Clark, Dolly, Willie, Johnny……..
With the latest controversy it bothers but doesn’t surprise me that there’s a market for the song. It also doesn’t surprise me at all that Aldean and his co-writers chose to exploit the sentiment.
This is an excellent point. And I wouldn't want to paint all country music as Aldean-esque. But I noticed in the '80s, when only Alabama seemed to be making it on not-country radio stations, the tone changed to something less country and more aggressive. Don't Take My Gun. Don't Take My Truck, And Keep Your Mitts Offa My Dog.
My 95yo mother who has lived in Dallas all her adult life and swears she does not watch Fox News, tells me that riding the bus -- which I did from the age of 12 to 17 -- will get white people murdered. It's *her* city, and that's how she sees it. Oh, and she refuses to vote, hasn't done so for decades. It's a mindset I can't understand, and I'm just glad I got out when I did.
The more older people (or any one, for that matter) stay in and watch television news, the more fearful they become. Why? Because local news covers the aberrations -- the murders, the carjackings -- and people begin to think that's what life Outside actually is. I saw this with my own mother-in-law, a Democrat involved in state politics for decades. Even she was susceptible to that kind of fearful nonsense.
The music of the 60's and especially the 70's is THE music. Back then musicians focused on melodies, lyrics and songs that had meaning that seems lost in these days of renegade country, and raging (c)rap. I think music can define generations and I am thankful my music lives on and meant so much to me and my peers.
Give me No-Show and Tammy any old day of the week. And get
offa my lawn.
In the past week I have come across family and friends up here in Connecticut that have made it known they now listen to country music. Just saying
For a while there, I reviewed country music occasionally for the Courant and I was continually surprised to see large crowds (and the random Confederate flag) at these events.
Not surprised seeing those flags. My friend is one who is fearful of all the crime in our cities. Has no problem with guns. Very conservative Catholic in that he supports turning back toward the Latin mass. Maybe also turning away from the progressive changes of Vatican II. Just saying just observing.
Apparently Aldean, who grew up, as Jac mention, in a city, not a small town, is unaware that his hometown of Macon has one of the highest crime rates in America. I guess people do try things in his "small" town.
There’s a lot of goofballs that I know that are fans of country music
For some of them it’s not surprising
They were always listening to southern rock so it wasn’t a shock that they would drift to country as they grew older and more close minded
But there are goofballs that I know that used to be in a punk rock band and would be in the middle of a mosh pit
To watch them line dancing now just makes me laugh
I grew up on it and got tired of the formula that was popular then, which included a whole lotta divorce and deception. When it began morphing into existential chest-bumping, I bailed.
Excellent point. The controversy inspired me to watch the videos for both Aldean’s song and John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.” The images of violence and mayhem from “the city” in Aldean’s song prove your point, Susan. Then, compare it to Mellencamp’s video, which is filled with nothing but Norman Rockwellesque snapshots and home film clips. Still cliché, but Mellencamp’s song is a tribute rather than an angry screed.
https://youtu.be/0CVLVaBECuc
You know I agree with you 99.9% of the time, Susan, but in the interest of journalistic integrity, I need to set the record straight. Earl was poisoned. Black eyed peas.
Besides that minor detail, you're on point, as usual.